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[WATCH] Texas: at least 26 dead in mass church shooting
At least 26 were killed and dozens more injured in what is being described as the worst mass shooting in modern Texas history
(Photo: NY Daily News)
At least 26 were killed in a church shooting when a gunman opened fire on a congregation at the First Baptist Church in the small town of Sutherland Springs, Texas.
Another 20 were wounded, according to regional director with the Texas Department of Public Safety, with victims ranging in age from five to 72-years-old.
The gunman has not been officially identified by police, but has been described by witnesses as a white male, in his 20s, wearing tactical-style gear and a ballistic vest.
According to US media outlets, the suspect has been named as Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, based on briefings from unnamed law enforcement sources.
Police said that the suspect was first seen at a gas station in Sutherland Springs at around 11:20am (local time) on Sunday, just before he began shooting at the church from outside. He then reportedly walked inside and continued shooting.
The suspect was then tackled by a local as he exited the church, he fled the scene to his car, and was pursued by police and two locals. The suspect was found dead following a brief chase, when he crashed his vehicle.
It is not yet known whether he died from a self-inflicted wound or a shot fired by the local who first tackled him.
...Americans do what we do best: we pull together. We join hands. We lock arms and through the tears and the sadness, we stand strong... pic.twitter.com/qkCPgtKGkA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2017
May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI & law enforcement are on the scene. I am monitoring the situation from Japan.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2017
US President Donald Trump, who is currently in Tokyo, said the shooting was an “act of evil”, blaming the suspect’s “mental health problems” and maintaining that this was “not a guns situation”.
Texas governor Greg Abbott said that this was the worst mass shooting in modern Texas history.
Authorities have not named any victims, but the First Baptist pastor Frank Pomeroy said that his 14-year-old daughter was amongst the dead.
In April 2016, Kelley reportedly purchased a Rugar AR-556 rifle, which was used in the shooting, from an Academy Sports & Outdoors store in San Antonio Texas, said a law enforcement official.
An Air force spokeswoman said that Kelley served from 2010-2014, and left following a court martial. Kelley had also reportedly received a bad conduct discharge, after assaulting his wife and child.
More details to follow...
